real estate advise: Houston Luxury Market Leads the Way During Another Positive Month for Houston Home Sales
- 08/09/17 12:51 PM
MLS Report for July 2017LUXURY MARKET LEADS THE WAY DURING ANOTHER POSITIVE MONTH FOR HOUSTON HOME SALESPricing gains ease in July while inventory grows to a five-year high HOUSTON — (August 9, 2017) — Houston home sales rose for the tenth consecutive month in July, however prices, which have seen steady gains over the past year, began showing signs of moderation. The luxury market, defined as homes priced from $750,000 and up, recorded the strongest sales volume, followed by homes in the $150,000 to $249,999 range. July marked the ninth straight month of rising sales in the luxury segment, which a year ago was still (1 comments)

In April of 2015 the median home price that sold was $263,000 with 7 homes sold. I feel that the time to sell is NOW! Pricing is at an all-time high and the demand is huge. Longwood Village in Cypress Texas is in a sellers’ market and the average time to sell a home in Longwood Village in April was only 14 (0 comments)

real estate advise: Large Home Loans May get Harder to Come by
- 06/13/11 07:11 AM
If you were waiting until the perfect time to buy that $700,000 house, you may not want to wait any longer. By the time this summer ends, the federal government will no longer back jumbo loans of $700,000 and above, making such mortgages harder to obtain. For more about this looming change, read this article from CNBC.com.************************************************************* Whether you're interested in buying your first home, your next home, or just want to know more about home-ownership in general, I encourage you to check out a couple of great online resources: http://www.texasrealestate.com/ or http://www.har.com/. And for all of your Pearland, TX and (2 comments)

real estate advise: Did You Know You're required to Report Gifts of Real Estate?
- 06/13/11 06:33 AM
When does a gift have potential tax implications? If you give as a gift property that is valued at more than $13,000, you must file a gift tax return (Form 709) with the IRS, even if that gift is to a family member. The IRS is using state land-transfer records as evidence of noncompliance. Texas is among many of the states that have handed over information on gift transactions to the IRS. Keep in mind this filing requirement is different from the $5 million lifetime exemption amount that a person can give without having to pay gift taxes. Read more at (1 comments)

real estate advise: Are you Doing Short Sales? Better Learn This First
- 06/06/11 04:14 AM
MARS is circling YOU, if you perform Short Sale Services. On January 31, 2011, the Mortgage Assistance Relief Services (MARS) final rule went into effect. The rule is primarily focused on companies who offer loan modifications to consumers, however the rule also impacts real estate licensees who represent clients involved in a short sale transaction. You may have experienced some unscrupulous people in your area taking advantage of consumers in distress sale situations, this rule was designed to protect the consumer.The rule requires three disclosures at various stages of the short sale process. A disclosure is required if a real (2 comments)

real estate advise: HORIZON CITY Near El Paso Land Scam - Beware
- 05/31/11 09:46 AM
HORIZON CITY (El Paso Times) – Owners of desert land near El Paso have recently been the target of an advertising scam perpetrated by a Florida-based company.According to the El Paso Times, investors purchased undeveloped tracts north of Horizon City between 1962 and 1975 for thousands of dollars apiece. The land was purchased from Horizon Corp., which promised buyers a quick return on their investments. The El Paso Central Appraisal District later determined the land was worth an average of $10 per acre.Now, those landowners, many of whom would like to rid themselves of the land, are being contacted by American (0 comments)

H. Res.25 expresses the sense of Congress that the current law governing the MID must be retained. To restrict current law in any way would undermine progress in the still-fragile housing recovery.

Please join me in sending a strong signal that you support a stable housing market and that you support the current MID rules.

Sincerely,

(1 comments)

real estate advise: Foreclosure Self-Help Book Receives Five Star Rating from Clarion Review
- 05/24/11 02:50 AM
Americans facing foreclosure can get some much needed help now by reading foreclosure attorney Teisha Powell's informative self-help book, "The Homeowner's Guide to Surviving Foreclosure." It is candid in assessing the real estate crash, and offers smart advice, telling homeowners how they can stall their foreclosures, walk away with little liability, plan their foreclosure defense, and save their homes. Clarion Review's Marilyn Berry, noted that "The Homeowner's Guide to Surviving Foreclosure" is "a very useful book" that "simultaneously reassures and informs", and gave it a five star rating - the highest possible.

The average 15-year fixed mortgage pulled back to 3.95 percent and the larger jumbo 30-year fixed rate retreated to 5.22 percent. Adjustable rate mortgages established new lows, with the average 5-year ARM sinking to 3.48 percent and the 7-year ARM settling at 3.73 percent.

Loss of momentum in the economic recovery, and worries that the economy (2 comments)

It appears that, at least for a period of time, you and I may be in the same business, finding the perfect qualified buyer and selling a beautiful home. I have had the privilege of working with many sellers just like you—and many of those have been individuals and families that chose to sell their home without the services of a professional. During this time, I've gained a tremendous insight into the process of selling real estate.Now, I'd like to share some of this knowledge with you to assist you (0 comments)

Welcome to the most current Housing Trends eNewsletter. This eNewsletter is specially designed for you, with national and local housing information that you may find useful whether you’re in the market for a home, thinking about selling your home, or just interested in homeowner issues in general. The Housing Trends eNewsletter contains the latest information from the National Association of REALTORS®, the U.S. Census Bureau and Realtor.org reports, videos, key market indicators and real estate sales statistics, a video message by a nationally recognized economist, maps, mortgage rates and calculators, consumer articles, (0 comments)

real estate advise: Pearland Texas Real Estate Market Trends Feb 2011
- 03/07/11 06:03 AM
Pearland Texas Real Estate Market TrendsIt is that time of the month to look back to see how the real estate market in Pearland TX did compared to the history and to look where it might be headed.In this story, I will be looking at the 2 zip code of Pearland, 77584 and 77581. For the most part, Pearland is following the history of what it has always done.Sales Absorption First, let’s look at the market dynamics of something called sales absorption. This shows the trends of how the market is doing and where it might go. Looking at February 2011, (0 comments)

real estate advise: FEBRUARY - 2011 Housing Trends eNewsletter
- 03/05/11 03:25 AM
FEBRUARY-2011 Newsletter Housing Trends eNewsletter Welcome to the most current Housing Trends eNewsletter. This eNewsletter is specially designed for you, with national and local housing information that you may find useful whether you’re in the market for a home, thinking about selling your home, or just interested in homeowner issues in general.The Housing Trends eNewsletter contains the latest information from the National Association of REALTORS®, the U.S. Census Bureau and Realtor.org reports, videos, key market indicators and real estate sales statistics, a video message by a nationally recognized economist, maps, mortgage rates and calculators, consumer articles, plus local neighborhood information (0 comments)

real estate advise: Moving to Texas? Things to Know When You Do
- 03/01/11 09:01 AM
As a new Texas resident, you have 30 days to register your vehicle and get your Texas driver's license. Before you register your vehicle, though, it must pass the state inspection process. In order, here are the three steps to follow:1. Take your vehicle to a state inspection station. You can find a list of what types of inspections are required in your county and an inspections-station locator at the Department of Public Safety Web site. When you go, make sure you take your current driver's license and proof of insurance. If your insurance policy wasn't issued in Texas, you may (0 comments)

Kitchens are now featuring a “family room” feel with more seating and dining areas. The most popular color choice for cabinets was white. It works well with almost any architectural style – traditional to contemporary. Stainless steel appliances are still a big hit, especially the fingerprint-resistant steel finish. More and more kitchens are featuring custom additions such as pizza-making stations, coffee bars and wine-tasting nooks. Walk-in pantries are popular for families and allow for ample storage of surplus (11 comments)

real estate advise: FEBRUARY-2011 Newsletter by Danny Frank
- 02/22/11 06:07 AM
Welcome to the most current Housing Trends eNewsletter. This eNewsletter is specially designed for you, with national and local housing information that you may find useful whether you’re in the market for a home, thinking about selling your home, or just interested in homeowner issues in general.Please click on this link to view the Housing Trends FEBRUARY-2011 Newsletter:http://danfrank.housingtrendsenewsletter.com?Newsletter_ID=269&Period_ID=376The Housing Trends eNewsletter contains the latest information from the National Association of REALTORS®, the U.S. Census Bureau, Realtor.org reports and other sources.Housing Trends eNewsletter is also filled with local and national real estate sales and price activity provided by MLSs and the National (0 comments)

real estate advise: Jobs and Home Ownership. You can't have one without the other.
- 02/18/11 10:49 AM
Good jobs enable people to achieve the American dream of home ownership. And every time a house is built, bought, or sold, jobs are created—lots of them—right here at home. Home sales in this country generate more than 2.5 million private-sector jobs in an average year. For every two homes sold, a job is created. Each home sale touches 80 different occupations. Every home purchased pumps up to $60,000 into the economy over time for furniture, home improvements, and related items. Housing accounts for more than 15% of the Gross Domestic Product, making it a key driver in our national economy. (0 comments)

real estate advise: 8 Tips for Adding Curb Appeal and Value to Your Home
- 02/18/11 09:24 AM
By: Pat CurryPublished: February 18, 2011 Here are eight ways to help your home put its best face forward. The way your house looks from the street--attractively landscaped and well-maintained--can add thousands to its value and cut the time it takes to sell. But which projects pump up curb appeal most? Some spit and polish goes a long way, and so does a dose of color. Tip #1: Wash your house’s faceBefore you scrape any paint or plant more azaleas, wash the dirt, mildew, and general grunge off the outside of your house. REALTORS® say washing a house can add $10,000 (0 comments)

real estate advise: Mortgage Interest Deduction Vital to Housing Market
- 02/16/11 02:55 AM
By: Dona DeZubePublished: October 29, 2010The home mortgage interest deduction saves the average home owner thousands of dollars at tax time, supports home values at the community level, and helps American home buyers get into their first house. How the deduction works In general, any home owners who pay U.S. taxes and who itemize their taxes can deduct mortgage interest attributable to primary residence and second-home debt totaling $1 million, and interest paid on home equity debt of as much as $100,000. Mortgage interest deduction threatened In recent years, the mortgage interest deduction has come under attack. Among the suggestions for (0 comments)

real estate advise: The 3.8% tax you’re not going to pay
- 02/14/11 12:11 AM
A rumor has been circulating via e-mail and on the Internet about a 3.8% tax in the healthcare-reform law that will be imposed on unearned income … including proceeds from the sale of a home. The e-mail says you’ll pay $15,200 in taxes on the sale of a $400,000 home.Not true. Only individuals with incomes over $200,000 a year ($250,000 for married couples) will be subject to the tax. Even then, the tax won’t apply to the first $250,000 on profits from the sale of a primary residence ($500,000 for couples). So, a single person who makes more than $200,000 a (5 comments)

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